Omaha daily bee., 1887-09-02
Tho pspnsv,vau,a Democratic.

Rather more than usual interest has
been felt regarding the attitude to be
taken by the democracy Of Pennsylvania
this year on the question OF revenue re.
duction. II was foreshadowed some timo
before the meeting of the state conven-
lion, held at Allentown on Wednesday,
that the vital matter to be determined
was whether the party was still DOM
mated by MIR. Randall or was prepared
to throw off his control and take posi-
ton in sympathy with the views enter
tanned by majority of the party in the
country. The element opposed to Ran
dali worked for weeks past with great as
sduity in urging the importance and ne
cessity of the party making a stand that
would be practical reputation
of Randall. Every argument that could
be brought to bear to show that this pol.
icy would be in the interest of the democ-
racy OF Pennsylvania and at large was
vigorously pressed. Delegates were
urged by circular to earnestly consider
the expediency and duty of putting the
party upon Q different course than It had
been pursuing, and at least one platform
was framed and publicly commended as
representing the views of the revenue
reformers in the party. There has never
been witnessed q more earnest and per-
sistent effort to induce a political organ.
ization to change front on vital ques-
ton to the whole party than was made in
Pennsylvania by the democrats who
sought the Reputation of Randall and his
policy.
The result is not one upon which they
can congratulate themselves. On the
contrary the evidence is that Mr.. Randall
played his part with his usual skill, and
may fairly point to the revenue declara-
tions of the convention as an endorses
ment OF his position He was conspic-
uously present, was member OF the
committee on resolutions, and his handi-
work in the preparation of the only
really important plank of the platform is
obvious. Having declared a renew al OF
| allegiance to the national platform OF
| 1884, and reaflirmed the state platform Of
| 1SSG-notoriously the work of Randall
| the Allentown convention demanded
that the surplus in the treasury shall be
used to pay the public debt
and that the ''current anc
unnecessary increase going on be-
yond the needs of the government
shall be Immediately prevented by a wise
and prudent reduction Of internal taxa
ton and of the duties on imports IN ac
cordance with the foregoing declara
| tions.'
In order to properly estimate the value
| of this declaration it IS necessary to have
in mind the view of Mr.. Randall regard
ing the foregoing declaration" He ha.
always maintained that the national plat
form of 1884 did not commit the demo
cratic party to policy of tariff revision
such as Carlisle, Morrison and their fol
construction given that platform by tn
tariff reformers was prevention O
its true meaning with regar,
to the state platform of las
year, the work of Mr.. Ran
dali, the country has seen that it wa
no restraint upon him IN the last con
gress, where he maintained as stubbornl
as ever before his opposition to all effort
for tariff reform. He will enter the mex
congress quite as free to pursue thi
course as he was in the last, and it is no
to be doubted that such is the course h
will pursue. He will stlcKle for "a wis
and prudent reduction of internal taxa
tion," by which is meant an abandon
ment of so much of the excise revenue a
will render any extensive reduction c
tariff duties unsafe, and failing in this h
viii! undoubtedly again block the wheel
of revenue legislation to the full ex
tent of his ability. And there is moth
ing in the declaration of the Allen
town convention to deter him from thl
course.
The platform heartily endorses tn
president, but beyond the revenue planl
possesses no general interest.